Puzzle #113 - Solved! Hotchkiss-Grégoire Grand Sport Coupé by Chapron

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know what car you think you see here.

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.  You can do so by clicking here.

Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles.

[Otto Puzzell]

I'd toyed with putting this one in the "Rookie' section and first. I'm glad I didn't.

[porridgehead]

I'm not.  If it was there, it wouldn't haunt me.

>:(


;)

[MG]

That rear window reminds me of a late '40s Cadilliac. In fact so do the rear fenders.

Can't say much about the front of the car, since the Grand Puzzler has seen fit to make it impossible to see it!    >:(

[Otto Puzzell]

I'll tell you this much: this car is much smaller than a Cadillac.

[MG]

I have learned from experience that what you DON'T say is often as important as what you DO say - or more so.

So...what are you saying?    ;D

Considering the probable age of this vehicle, I am guessing it is an early 50's example that "borrowed" heavily from the aforementioned Cadilliac. Which implies a European model and brand.  The slope of the rear almost looks Porsche-like. If it had louvers cut into it....... But no, it does not. 

We KNOW the Germans LOVE their silver cars.  So I am guessing a German manufacturer. One with possible ties to GM. Let's start the bidding with "What is Opel, KU?"      :cheer:

[Otto Puzzell]

Not an Opel.

[Otto Puzzell]

Also not a Porsche, or German.

[Jagman]

Looks like a Volvo to me...........

[MG]

Actually, taking a new look at this, that wood dash looks very European and in particular it looks British..... ???

[Otto Puzzell]

Not a Volvo; not British.

[ByrX]

Hotchkiss gregoire?

[Otto Puzzell]

Absolutely correct!

For MG's edification, here is the front of the car, from which I'm sure he would have produced an instant ID.  ;)

[Otto Puzzell]

And with that, ByrX has joined the ranks of the Expert AutoPuzzlers. Well done, sir!  :applause:

[MG]

Yup. That front shot's a dead giveaway!    ::)

[Wendax]

Another nice picture:

[GrahamClayton]

The Hotchkiss-Gregoire featured a front wheel drive design purchased by Hotchkiss from JA Gregoire. The car was powered by a horizontally opposed 2188cc 4 cylinder engine.
Production commenced in June 1951, but ended in November 1952 after only 247 cars had been built.

[grobmotorix]

Here´s a rare 1950 color photo:

[Frisian Rhodesian]

You have failed to mention that your puzzle picture shows an extremely rare Hotchkiss Grégoire Grand Sports 2-door body by Paul Charon. Only 247 Hotchkiss Grégoire's were built, of which 235 had been 4-door sedans, a couple of Convertibles, which leaves 10 or less Grand Sports! The failure of these cars to sell in large volumes, must in part be due to the fact that they retailed for more than twice the price of a similarly sized six-cylinder Citroën Traction 15CV!

[grobmotorix]

The failure of these cars to sell in large volumes, must in part be due to the fact that they retailed for more than twice the price of a similarly sized six-cylinder Citroën Traction 15CV!

As you can see in the big color photo, it has been overtaken quickly by Citroen...

[Otto Puzzell]

Original pic re-added, to support index.